My son hit several dolphin last week at Edisto Beach SC off a sand bar in very shallow water. The dolphin were chasing bait fish in a couple feet of water Don't think there was any damage to the dolphins he was on a H16. and to the animal lovers he was not trying to even get near. The dolphin in one case ran into the side of the boat. I have seen a lot on a hobie but not this.Former Hobie Admiral Gary

They are great, intelligent animals. We sailed off Emerald Isle, NC every day for a week and saw many of them. One day we luffed the sails and just watched about 50 or more mill around, probably herding bait fish, some of them slapping their tails on the water. Another time we sailed toward a group moving along the shore. They disappeared but one came up in front of us going out to sea at right angles to where they were going. He led us for a while and then disappeared as well to join the group. His job apparently was to distract us from the group.

My wife and I actually played catch with a dolphin at Marineworld in St. Augustine many years ago. He was in a shallow tank and threw out a piece of shell as we walked by. We looked in the tank to see where it came from and saw him looking back at us. We threw it back and he picked it up in his mouth and flipped his head to throw it back. This went on for over 1/2 an hour. People were standing around the tank, taking pictures, but he came back to us with it each time. I was amazed at the dolphin intelligence.

It either was not an accidental hit by the dolphin or it wasn't really harmed. They ram into sharks and have amazing echolocation and body control. I imagine that they are very aware of their surroundings and there are no uncoordinated dolphins. Going after a fish and risking ramming something is also quite believable.

I see them pretty much every time I go out. I found a place where they congregate to feed and go back there again and again. They have come up next to me quite a few times. My Adventure Island moves fairly slow and isn't a threat. Sometimes one will surface enough to see me (eye out of the water) but mostly they only surface to breathe. I've felt the spray from exhaling - pretty cool. I've seen babies as little as they get - about 2 feet long - like a miniature dolphin following along with the rest of the family / pod. I think the males circle around the females and younger ones like scouts in case of a shark or something. It is really cool being out there, my butt just an inch out of the water, no sound but the wind and waves, in the same elements with dolphins.